Dairy products Spending
How much American households spend on dairy products — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Dairy products
American households spent an average of $631 on dairy products in 2024, representing 0.8% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 4.8% increase from 2023 ($602), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.
Since 2020, dairy products spending has risen by 33.1% (from $474 to $631), substantially exceeding cumulative inflation over the same period — a real increase in household burden. The category breaks into 2 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic — drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.
Income is the strongest predictor of dairy products spending: the top income quintile spends $951/year versus $385 for the lowest quintile — a 2.5x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($735/year) while the South spends the least ($540/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $631 |
| 2023 | $602 |
| 2022 | $532 |
| 2021 | $492 |
| 2020 | $474 |
Subcategories
| Subcategory | Annual Amount (2024) |
|---|---|
| Fresh milk and cream | $141 |
| Other dairy products | $490 |
By Income Level (2024)
How dairy products spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $385 |
| Second 20% | $493 |
| Middle 20% | $594 |
| Fourth 20% | $733 |
| Highest 20% | $951 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in dairy products spending
By Age Group (2024)
How dairy products spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $349 |
| 2 People | $753 |
| 3 People | $632 |
| 4 People | $740 |
| 5 or More | $853 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $715 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $781 |
| Renter | $609 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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Spending Guides
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Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
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Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
